…. then the Grinch raised his glass and led the Whos in a toast:TO KINDNESS AND LOVE, THE THINGS WE NEED MOST. Merry Christmas Eve from our Country Mouse tree / City Mouse tree home to yours… Love,Charlie, Frankie, David & Tereasa Camp tree by @DavidTsay Home tree by CharlieGirl
December 24, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
Home away from home for the Holidays. AKA: An affordable mansion on Airbnb that you can drive to, socially distance in and need to add to your bucket list. For the first time ever (and to keep everyone safe) we cant go to my hometown to see our fam for Christmas so we ventured out to Michigan for a little social distancing staycation this week.Weve been dreaming of seeing this place forever.Our TOP 10 TO TRY when you book @farrand1854 MAKE a hot toddy & explore their 12 acres of hibernating gardens DRIVE tour of the horse farms of Amish country HIKE / tour the trails of the Latvians summer camp Garezers in three rivers (last shot) *special permission needed for this one, but you can visit @latviancentergarezers to learn how to support the mission of this non-profit BAKE chocolate chip cookies in the enormous house kitchen (they use for visiting chefs for their dinner series) PERUSE the house library of art & history books & curl up in one of their many reading nooks COOK up a pot of hot chocolate (spike with Baileys) & set up camp in front of the ancient, huge fireplace SHOP the local Amish hand made woodcrafts VISIT the Farrand pantry cookbook library & make a feast in the formal dining room (this one we just dreamed about since I cant boil an egg) EXPLORE every corner of this 167 year old (impeccably restored and decorated) estate.Jacob & James we will be back Some of Charlies fav spots in the house + couple of our photos from their beautiful feed
December 24, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
Our annual camp Winter wonderland blanket is almost upon us. To answer the riddle What do you do at a summer camp in the wintertime? See todays profile. &https://tinyurl.com/y8ky2zgn* This is our winter suggestions of our nearby favorite things to do. (Hours, openings and offerings are subject to change for individual social distancing policies for each local attraction. Stay safe.) Just hanging out by the fireplace with a good book and the company of your quaranteam is also highly recommended.
December 23, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
How old were you and where did you learn to ice skate? – Little embarrassed to admit that we didnt learn until we bought camp (pushing a chair around the ice).Still not good at it, but its still fun trying.Skating on this lake is one of our favorite things to do in the winter. Weve been hoarding vintage skates from every barn sale, thrift store, yard sale, church basement sale and flea market for years just to be ready. Photos @davidtsay with @mindysegal @mrskellymariet (Always check with Wisconsin DNR to learn when its safe before you traverse out onto any lake, friends).
December 22, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
Yesterday Charlie decided that she wanted to make a gingerbread version of our Aframe. I think she did a lovely job – and that someday she could make her own job title for decorating gingerbread houses if she wanted to.(Someday Id like somebody to hire me for the job title of Apprentice ornament maker)We started framing my stash of photos of strangers….(antique lodge & camp photos) as ornaments. Next step is to make real actual Adirondack style twig with teeny tiny blacksmith nail frames. but its almost Christmas, running out of time.(dont know how to make them yet- advice welcome )so these pre made frames will have to hold us over until next year… Her fav part of this season is hanging the @crateandkids (land of nod) plaid stockings that were part of the collab line. Well hang these every year until were all raisins and hopefully grandparents.
December 21, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
ON VACATION Its official! Starting today….we wont have to go back to work again until next year.We told Charlie that everyday for the next two weeks well do a holiday activity, so she asked us if we could start by floating a Christmas tree out on the lake in a canoe again.But given that the icefishers have already taken up their seasonal residency on Wandawega, I think were gonna have to wait until next season to do this again. Two whole weeks without meetings starting…now. Let the cookie binging, Frozen watching marathon, snowman army building begin When your ten-year old tells you that you taking time off work is the best present, it makes you rethink your priorities. So were closing out 2020 doing things that shell remember more than the year she didnt get to see her cousins.Looking forward to 2021 and spending time with everybody again in person Happy Holidays, everyone !!
December 20, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
Love during covid.A dozen years ago, I did something Ive never done before or since.I stopped a very tall, very intimidating looking stranger on the street. He was stepping out of his Wagoneer – I asked him if he had a recco for mechanics, explaining that my husband and I had the same Jeep which was on it’s last leg.He said : Funny you ask, I was just stopped a couple days ago by a guy who asked me the same thing.(Turns out, that guy was my husband, David).We became fast friends.Patrick is a swiss army knife interior designer & architect (who also owns an insanely beautiful logging camp in the north woods, last pic).He became our architect/therapist on the #WandawegaHillhouse, helped us throw camp events, book launches, flea markets & has the thankless task of keeping me sane. Hes a modern dandy-meets-lumberjack. Brilliant & funny as hell.A few years ago, he conveniently met his soul mate (@mrbekker ) online, who inconveniently lives in the Netherlands.(Niels is a 64 Dutch speaking ray of sunshine who’s also a master gardener, travels the world for a living and makes a mean cocktail).This Christmas, these two have been a much needed reminder that even a pandemic and a 4101 mile divide cant stop love.(After 4 years growing their relationship while separated by an ocean, they just tied the knot in a tiny family ceremony in Amsterdam).Just heard this morning that Niels flight to Chicago has been cancelled, meaning that their first Christmas as Mr & Mr will now be spent together as it started, separated and online.Many of us are spending this holiday away from each other. This is the first Christmas in my lifetime I won’t get to go home to see my family.And then I look at Patrick & Niels – proof positive that we’re together even when we’re apart.Congratulations to two of my favorite humans on the planet.shots here by @DavidTsay & friends
December 19, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
Every year we try something new, but our favorite Christmas tree at camp Is the one we set up on the end of our pier overlooking the icerink we plowed on the lake.We set it up with a fire pit on a dock section, lights and benches so we could night skate- it was magical and I hope Charlie remembers it when shes off to college (so she still wants to come home )It was the day Charlie learned how to skate and we had gallons of Spiked Hot chocolate with friends @mrskellymariet / @fleurinc and @mindysegal /@mindysbakery, @cargo_north @mrbekker Pic by our friend @davidtsay for @betterhomesandgardens
December 18, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
The single best reason you should buy a summer camp?So you can give it away.The most emotionally rewarding part of running this place is that we get to donate it to support important causes & inspiring, generous artists. This past summer, we partnered with @THEJAUNT to host 4 artists to make art. 25% of all the proceeds of the sales are donated to local good causes: @socialworks_chi -kelly @lgbtdetroit -Bakpak@bravespacealliance -DavidDetroit Black Community Food Security Network- dbcfsn.org -Ellen The prints just went live on @thejaunt.net THE ARTISTS:@ellenrutt DETROITEllen creates her own language through mixed-media paintings, murals, installations and a variety of wearables. Through her work Ellen tells a symbolic narrative of connectivity and dissonance, through which she questions the ways we create meaning from non-sense. Her work often features an immersive, performative quality, encouraging participation.@kellyknaga CHICAGOinvestigates the natural and digital landscapes through the play of shape, image, color, line and pattern. Her work utilises historical and sometimes fictional references through anthropological studies, mapmaking and storytelling. She is Dir.of Design Education at IUN & other design organisations.@davheo CHICAGODavid an upcoming artist who utilises the symbology inherent to historical paintings and illustrations of mythology and folklore. Utilising history to create mix of grand mythical meta narratives to serene frames of domestic daily life. Depictions of horses, dogs and tigers are typologies of the people he encounters in night life.@bakpakdurden DETROITWith a primary focus on the human figure, Bakpak, uses a range of mediums to create their hyperrealistic and conceptual style. With an eye for detail and emotion their engaging subjects shine a spotlight on human feelings, moods and experiences. Bakpak also creates murals & continues work within community, queer, and mental health advocacyBe kind to each other this holiday, friends.
December 17, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
Christmas Card writing.(Unfort, our mutt Frankie does not share my enthusiasm for antique Christmas stamps & wood veneer envelopes).For our camp holiday cards, we commissioned our friend (artist @marina.kozak ) to draw the Wandawega fleet loaded up with Christmas trees. And realized that we need a bigger card (the 2021 version will include the new members of the fam).+ Wanda (79 Ford workhorse that I just smashed the bumper on ) +ScoutMaster (the 1940s teensie guest rowboat we just resurrected)+ our 75 year old tractor my little brother just restored and gifted us (on HIS birthday)+ 1940s Teardrop trailer- (that still needs a name and a purpose in life – leaning towards a whiskey / smores/ firewood trailer)#ideaswelcomeand… um- yes. Slim chance these cards are gonna arrive by Christmas. So I guess we should just call these Welcome to 2021 cardsBetter late than never?#trying
December 16, 2020 • Published by Tereasa Surratt
